Orientation not up to par

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Specializes in Ambulatory Care, Case Manager.

Would you stay at a job where they didn't provide you with a good orientation? I got hired as Per Diem at a specialty new to me and I would be working alone with my patients. I still haven't been checked off half of the New Employee Orientation skills list and my supervisor expected me to work already on my own.

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Specializes in Home health was tops, 2nd was L&D.

Did they give you a contact person to work with? I would explain to manager that you have not done.a, b, c on th checklist and see if you can get to see it done. As PRN you will not get an orientation equal to anything like a FT job. This is why most experienced nurses on this forum warn nurses to be very careful with taking on PRN work.. It tends to be "fly by the seat of your pants work" Are the things you have not met skills that you need to learn?

I would suggest being very honest and request a sit down with manager to explain your issues. Then you will know how willing they are to teach you more. Your manager may NOT know that you do not feel up to speed as most PRN's come with previous experience they can transfer to the new job. Just ask!!!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PACU.

Are you a new grad? If you are, PRN is just a bad idea because of not getting a full orientation. If you are a seasoned nurse, you may only get a brief orientation. Ours have a checklist and they check things they can do, we just really go over hospital policies and such with them and they get only a brief time on the services they are going to work.

You need to meet with the person that runs the PRN program (we have a central PRN) or the manager and go over your concerns.

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In my experience, a "good" orientation for a prn person would be the exception rather than the rule. As already noted, prn people are expected to be able to function pretty independently pretty quick.

I agree with the suggestion that you meet with your manager to express your concerns.

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Specializes in Home Health.

Let your manager know what you need. If you take assignments that you cannot handle, you will be responsible for the outcome.

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